I'm feeling much more confident about our homeschooling efforts, thanks to advice from some really great homeschooling moms. Lowering my expectations and making a concious effort to incorporate concepts throughout the day is really paying off.
For example, we started working with the letter A. I showed her the letter, she identified it and the sound it makes, then she held on to it while we're reading, traced its shape on paper, made up stories about it, etc. She made up one story where letter A was being chased a la the Gingerbread Man. This evening, as we were reading a story before bed, she surprised me by saying "cat-there's that aaa sound again", just as I'd done throughout the day.
We went to the park, where she made a new friend. We're also working on using our words (a continual effort), so I was glad to hear her say "Don't push me" instead of pushing back. Even more progress. What a great day!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Rocks ARE Fun!
We attended our second Nature Circle today, and the theme was Rocks Are Fun. DD brought her rock from Cannon Beach, OR for show and tell. She heard a story about rocks and learned what a geologist does. She even got to see and touch a fossil. She had a great time playing after with her friends at the small stream we discovered.
Since the Nature Circle handily takes care of all our science needs, we came home and read more stories. This time, I gave her a letter A magnet to hold and I pointed out the letter and its sound whenever we came across it. Tomorrow we may trace the letter A and maybe make a collage about the letter A. Using scissors is always a good incentive.
One of our books was a math book about matching (socks), so we talked a bit about pairs and what aspect of one sock looked different or similar to another sock. We should probably play a few rounds of Memory to reinforce the concept. There were several suggestions in the back of the book, some of which involved crafts--not my strong point-but we may attempt them anyway.
Since the Nature Circle handily takes care of all our science needs, we came home and read more stories. This time, I gave her a letter A magnet to hold and I pointed out the letter and its sound whenever we came across it. Tomorrow we may trace the letter A and maybe make a collage about the letter A. Using scissors is always a good incentive.
One of our books was a math book about matching (socks), so we talked a bit about pairs and what aspect of one sock looked different or similar to another sock. We should probably play a few rounds of Memory to reinforce the concept. There were several suggestions in the back of the book, some of which involved crafts--not my strong point-but we may attempt them anyway.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
RocketGirl
I normally don't post on Saturdays, but today was special and I don't want to forget it. We finally used the big tv box that Uncle Shane brought over. We made it into an airplane. It even has wings and a propeller. I had a pencil and a yardstick (who knew I could wield a ruler?) for precision and accuracy. The really neat thing was that the whole family was involved. We had a great time deciding how to make the wings, how to attach the propellers, what to paint on the sides and the top (Spirit of St. Louis, The Flying Laboratory (the informal name of Amelia Earhart's plan) and dd Earhart, Pilot). Then, the pilot flew her crew chief to England. What a great day!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Stagestruck
Today I spent the day with Sleeping Beauty. She has a lovely pink ball gown and crown. She likes to pretend she is spinning, then prick her finger and fall into an enchanted sleep from which only a prince can awaken her. I've learned that she'll sleep for a pretty long time!
Later, we had music appreciation class (or, Mom is listening to HER songs on the ipod today). She wanted to hear a slow one and she decided to act sad during the song. She made all of these sad faces; at one point I actually thought she was crying. Oh dear. I think we have a Sarah Bernhardt here. She's currently taking a ballet class; maybe she should sign up for drama instead.
I'm planning to resume our formal lessons on Monday. I'm planning to work with one letter per week. I'll start with A and emphasize its short vowel sound. I did feel vindicated when I read in A Well-Trained Mind (hereafter abbreviated as AWTM) that a most four-year-olds don't have the attention span for a formal program. So, our lack of success (in my mind) is probably 50% instructor and 50% ages and stages.
Later, we had music appreciation class (or, Mom is listening to HER songs on the ipod today). She wanted to hear a slow one and she decided to act sad during the song. She made all of these sad faces; at one point I actually thought she was crying. Oh dear. I think we have a Sarah Bernhardt here. She's currently taking a ballet class; maybe she should sign up for drama instead.
I'm planning to resume our formal lessons on Monday. I'm planning to work with one letter per week. I'll start with A and emphasize its short vowel sound. I did feel vindicated when I read in A Well-Trained Mind (hereafter abbreviated as AWTM) that a most four-year-olds don't have the attention span for a formal program. So, our lack of success (in my mind) is probably 50% instructor and 50% ages and stages.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Gravity
When you lose control and you fall in a hole, it's Gravity. Or, it's when your four-year-old wants to play a game called ball storm and she dumps 100 balls over the side of the swingset. So, we discussed gravity, Sir Isaac Newton and that exhausted my trivial knowledge of gravity. But, I'm learning (slowly) to consciously integrate science, math and phonics into our day.
It was such a beautiful day here that we spent most of the morning outside. We took a snack, our picnic blanket and our library bookbag outside and ate and read and read and ate. We read a great book today called Twenty is Too Many by Kate Duke. The book starts out with 20 guinea pigs, then subtracts 10, then one from each until you get to one lonely guinea pig. It was a good way to start talking about taking away and adding to. Later we made some chocolate chip cookies and we talked more about how many cups, how many teaspoons, etc.
We're also continuing to work with letter sounds, particularly the short vowel sounds. According to A Well-Trained Mind, dd will be reading by the 11th lesson in Phonics Pathways. That's encouraging. Right now, she doesn't care to work with the blends, but we'll keep plugging away in fun, exciting homeschooling ways!
It was such a beautiful day here that we spent most of the morning outside. We took a snack, our picnic blanket and our library bookbag outside and ate and read and read and ate. We read a great book today called Twenty is Too Many by Kate Duke. The book starts out with 20 guinea pigs, then subtracts 10, then one from each until you get to one lonely guinea pig. It was a good way to start talking about taking away and adding to. Later we made some chocolate chip cookies and we talked more about how many cups, how many teaspoons, etc.
We're also continuing to work with letter sounds, particularly the short vowel sounds. According to A Well-Trained Mind, dd will be reading by the 11th lesson in Phonics Pathways. That's encouraging. Right now, she doesn't care to work with the blends, but we'll keep plugging away in fun, exciting homeschooling ways!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Under the Sea
We're back after a lengthy absence. Did you miss us? We were visiting the great state of West Virginia. We had a fantastic weekend and all of it was educational. Every single bit. Really. One of the highlights of the trip for me was watching dd catch a frog. I think I hid my feelings of repulsion fairly well. Luckily, she did not ask me to touch the frog. I had already steeled myself to do it without flinching or shrieking like the staunch amphibian hater that I am, but I'm so thankful I didn't have to!
Today was Princess game day. All day long-seemingly without cessation. First, we played Cinderella. I, of course, was the stepmother, the stepsisters, the prince and the duke. Whew! She even managed to kick off her glass slipper (aka mary jane) while running down the hall into her room. Later, she built a spinning wheel out of Lincoln Logs so that we could play Sleeping Beauty. All I had to do was move the princess' sleeping body over to the sofa cushion masquerading as an elegant bed. After Prince Teddy Bear woke her with a kiss, it was time to play Ariel. This consisted of my singing a few bars of Under the Sea over and over and over while Ariel ran and hid. While Ariel was hiding, I announced that I was going to look for King Triton (code for sneak a few minutes on the computer) but I was totally busted. "King Triton isn't in this story. We don't have enough Lincoln Logs to build him. Sing Under the Sea again." You may ask yourself why I agreed to do this. I'm asking myself as well.
We are slowly resuming a modified version of our earlier routine (do I sound like a politician or what?). On a friend's recommendation, I'm re-reading the relevant portion of A Well-Trained Mind. After skimming through again today, I can see that my initial plans were probably too ambitious for our first year. We're going to focus on letter sounds and numbers and we're going to read, read, read. I had hoped to have her reading by Christmas (and by reading I mean the Bob books, not War and Peace), but now I'm working on cultivating a more relaxed attitude. A more under the sea attitude. We'll see what tomorrow brings...
Today was Princess game day. All day long-seemingly without cessation. First, we played Cinderella. I, of course, was the stepmother, the stepsisters, the prince and the duke. Whew! She even managed to kick off her glass slipper (aka mary jane) while running down the hall into her room. Later, she built a spinning wheel out of Lincoln Logs so that we could play Sleeping Beauty. All I had to do was move the princess' sleeping body over to the sofa cushion masquerading as an elegant bed. After Prince Teddy Bear woke her with a kiss, it was time to play Ariel. This consisted of my singing a few bars of Under the Sea over and over and over while Ariel ran and hid. While Ariel was hiding, I announced that I was going to look for King Triton (code for sneak a few minutes on the computer) but I was totally busted. "King Triton isn't in this story. We don't have enough Lincoln Logs to build him. Sing Under the Sea again." You may ask yourself why I agreed to do this. I'm asking myself as well.
We are slowly resuming a modified version of our earlier routine (do I sound like a politician or what?). On a friend's recommendation, I'm re-reading the relevant portion of A Well-Trained Mind. After skimming through again today, I can see that my initial plans were probably too ambitious for our first year. We're going to focus on letter sounds and numbers and we're going to read, read, read. I had hoped to have her reading by Christmas (and by reading I mean the Bob books, not War and Peace), but now I'm working on cultivating a more relaxed attitude. A more under the sea attitude. We'll see what tomorrow brings...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Lincoln Log Letters
We had a great day today. After we made a trip to our personal Mecca, Walmart, where, by the way, we bought eggs, changed the oil in the car and contemplated the purchase of a bacon egg and cheese, we got home and got down to business: the business of making letters out of Lincoln Logs. Who knew? DD did. We also sharpened our brain cells with classical music. Music without words, electric guitars or drums. Then we had to keep it real with a little Fleetwood Mac (which is as lame as it sounds).
We also worked on our Owl book that we made at yesterday's Nature Circle event. We had a color sheet for four different owls with details about eye color, feather color, diet and habitat. She also requested the book I'm Not Cute, which Ms. Liana read yesterday. It's about a cute little baby owl with razor like claws and machine-like hunting skills. You had to be there.
This afternoon we attended our first ballet lesson. She had a great time and she said the other little girls were nice to her. Two of the girls in her class are homeschoolers, too, so I had a chance to chat with their mom and learn all I could. Luckily, she'll be back next week. There's so much I need to know!
We also worked on our Owl book that we made at yesterday's Nature Circle event. We had a color sheet for four different owls with details about eye color, feather color, diet and habitat. She also requested the book I'm Not Cute, which Ms. Liana read yesterday. It's about a cute little baby owl with razor like claws and machine-like hunting skills. You had to be there.
This afternoon we attended our first ballet lesson. She had a great time and she said the other little girls were nice to her. Two of the girls in her class are homeschoolers, too, so I had a chance to chat with their mom and learn all I could. Luckily, she'll be back next week. There's so much I need to know!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Nocturnal Creatures
Today we visited our local state park for Nature Circle. Each Monday, preschoolers can come to Nature Circle to learn about a certain topic, such as animals that are native to Tennessee. Today we learned about owls. They, like me, are nocturnal creatures. They, unlike me, spit up pellets of undigestible goo. At least I haven't done that yet. The program was a lot of fun, though. DD sat right up front and showed the teacher the photo we took of her and a Florida owl from the Homosassa Wildlife Park. She also informed the teacher that fireflies are nocturnal. Excellent.
Afterwards, we played at the little creek with some of our friends. They again played Pooh Sticks (email me for clarification) and also fished with sticks. They caught some huge algae. On our next visit, we're bringing a picnic lunch and hiking one of the trails. A short one. A very short one.
Afterwards, we played at the little creek with some of our friends. They again played Pooh Sticks (email me for clarification) and also fished with sticks. They caught some huge algae. On our next visit, we're bringing a picnic lunch and hiking one of the trails. A short one. A very short one.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Let Them Eat Cake
Today was the day of the cake. She "baked" a cake with flour, decorative sprinkles and the last few drops of milk in the house. She even put it in the oven. Yikes! Later we re-measured the flour and added a few essential ingredients. Then she wrote I love you Mom on the cake. You couldn't exactly make the words out, but it's the thought that counts.
We traced a few more letters today and read Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble, Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog and Clifford the Big Red Dog in The Small Puppy. She's not too interested in her computer games right now, so we've mostly been riding bikes, playing blocks and jumping on the trampoline in the afternoon.
We don't have much else to report. I think tomorrow will be huge, as we are going to see Disney Princesses on Ice. She has no idea we're going, as I preferred not to answer the question "How many sleeps until it's time to see Disney Princess?" one hundred times a day.
On Monday, we're going to a new preschool nature program at a local park. I think she'll have a good time, plus she'll be able to meet some new friends (I hope). We haven't had much luck in the new friend department. She's at an in-between age at the park. The kids she wants to play with are older and have no time for a four-year-old, and the toddlers are too young to do what she does. We're also looking to join a homeschool coop, which would be a good social outlet for both of us.
We traced a few more letters today and read Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble, Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog and Clifford the Big Red Dog in The Small Puppy. She's not too interested in her computer games right now, so we've mostly been riding bikes, playing blocks and jumping on the trampoline in the afternoon.
We don't have much else to report. I think tomorrow will be huge, as we are going to see Disney Princesses on Ice. She has no idea we're going, as I preferred not to answer the question "How many sleeps until it's time to see Disney Princess?" one hundred times a day.
On Monday, we're going to a new preschool nature program at a local park. I think she'll have a good time, plus she'll be able to meet some new friends (I hope). We haven't had much luck in the new friend department. She's at an in-between age at the park. The kids she wants to play with are older and have no time for a four-year-old, and the toddlers are too young to do what she does. We're also looking to join a homeschool coop, which would be a good social outlet for both of us.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
And BINGO was his Name-O
We had another great day today. So far, I've discovered that she abhors worksheets (good), having anyone tell her what to do (bad) and the phonics book that I painstakingly selected (very bad). No matter. I will still use the book; I'll just hide the book from her for the time being. Very sneaky peeky, a la Junie B Jones.
This new structure I've instigated seem to be working pretty well. We do our reading and narration in the morning, then we read books and play games or run errands until lunch. After lunch is quiet time for me, which is sacrosanct.
After this morning's attempted lesson, she traced some of her magnetic letters onto a blank sheet of paper, all the while "spelling" and sounding out the letters (mostly correctly). I was told to hold the letters still and "not mess them up." I did what I was told (mostly correctly).
Then we hit the library to exchange our books. We hadn't been since last week, so I was in desperate need of new reading material. Right now I'm looking at What Your Preschooler Needs to Know (this pick is mainly to congratulate myself on what (I hope) she already knows), Play to Learn and 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays. The latter I got to assuage my massive guilt pangs because she didn't know the words to BINGO in storytime. I don't know if BINGO is in there, but we are going to learn some fingerplays, by gosh.
She selected tons of books, one of which I was looking forward to reading until I saw how many words were on each page. Oh my lord. Some chapter books I can handle, but the long picture books sometimes take 2-3 nighttimes to get through. Tonight we read some stories out of a collection of Animal Tales that she picked out. I'm working on keeping a list of books that we read. I know you're on the edge of your seat.
This new structure I've instigated seem to be working pretty well. We do our reading and narration in the morning, then we read books and play games or run errands until lunch. After lunch is quiet time for me, which is sacrosanct.
After this morning's attempted lesson, she traced some of her magnetic letters onto a blank sheet of paper, all the while "spelling" and sounding out the letters (mostly correctly). I was told to hold the letters still and "not mess them up." I did what I was told (mostly correctly).
Then we hit the library to exchange our books. We hadn't been since last week, so I was in desperate need of new reading material. Right now I'm looking at What Your Preschooler Needs to Know (this pick is mainly to congratulate myself on what (I hope) she already knows), Play to Learn and 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays. The latter I got to assuage my massive guilt pangs because she didn't know the words to BINGO in storytime. I don't know if BINGO is in there, but we are going to learn some fingerplays, by gosh.
She selected tons of books, one of which I was looking forward to reading until I saw how many words were on each page. Oh my lord. Some chapter books I can handle, but the long picture books sometimes take 2-3 nighttimes to get through. Tonight we read some stories out of a collection of Animal Tales that she picked out. I'm working on keeping a list of books that we read. I know you're on the edge of your seat.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
A New Attitude
Today's lesson was probably our biggest success, solely due to my change in attitude. I read an interesting anecdote on the Internet last night. A mother was becoming more and more frustrated because her bright seven-year-old son was unable to tell her various letter sounds. She pushed and drilled as hard as she knew how, but nothing worked. Finally, she decided to take a break from reading lessons for awhile. When her son asked (with dread) about their next phonics lesson, she told him that they would switch places. Instead of her listening to him read, it was his turn to listen to HER read. He eagerly ran to his room and came back with an armful of favorite books, and she read every one.
Reading that made me remember why we embarked on this crazy experiment in the first place: I wanted to foster her love of learning, not destroy it. So, we did work on blending, then we cuddled on the couch and read some new favorite books. One really good one and one not so good (an illustrated history of the pig. I know, who knew??)
What's funny (and maybe a little sad, too) about all this is that we've only been having formal lessons for 1.5 weeks. 1.5 weeks, people!!! Is there an emoticon for embarrasment??? I really didn't think I was still such a perfectionist. At least, not regarding my dd. As my dad would say, "Lighten up!", which I always hated but am now considering having tattooed on my forehead backwards.
Anyway, I used this great insight as fodder. Last night I planned to have a great day with my dd, and so far we have.
Reading that made me remember why we embarked on this crazy experiment in the first place: I wanted to foster her love of learning, not destroy it. So, we did work on blending, then we cuddled on the couch and read some new favorite books. One really good one and one not so good (an illustrated history of the pig. I know, who knew??)
What's funny (and maybe a little sad, too) about all this is that we've only been having formal lessons for 1.5 weeks. 1.5 weeks, people!!! Is there an emoticon for embarrasment??? I really didn't think I was still such a perfectionist. At least, not regarding my dd. As my dad would say, "Lighten up!", which I always hated but am now considering having tattooed on my forehead backwards.
Anyway, I used this great insight as fodder. Last night I planned to have a great day with my dd, and so far we have.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Back in the Saddle Again
So, today's lesson...definitely more organized and structured. However, it BOMBED. I was met with the classic: "When are we going to do something funner?" Not even grammatically correct! Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Of course, there's always the option that my brilliant daughter is bored because she truly does know the short vowel sounds now. I certainly do. I'm drilling them in my sleep. But I digress. So tomorrow, we start blending, folks. We'll be making actual, tw0-letter words. I'm sure she'll LOVE that.
The only part of today's lesson that didn't bomb was making cookies. We read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and then we made cookies. As she was attempting to pour the entire contents of our sugar canister into the bowl, I kindly pointed out to her that it wasn't time yet-not yet not yet not yet!!! To which she replied "Yes it is." Ordinarly, this is my cue to say "No it isn't," but today I took the higher road and said "I'm reading the directions. When you learn to read, then you'll know exactly when to put in the sugar." Yes, I did sound sanctimonious and snotty (mostly just snotty). Ugh.
Oh well, as Scarlett says, "tomorrow is another day."
Of course, there's always the option that my brilliant daughter is bored because she truly does know the short vowel sounds now. I certainly do. I'm drilling them in my sleep. But I digress. So tomorrow, we start blending, folks. We'll be making actual, tw0-letter words. I'm sure she'll LOVE that.
The only part of today's lesson that didn't bomb was making cookies. We read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and then we made cookies. As she was attempting to pour the entire contents of our sugar canister into the bowl, I kindly pointed out to her that it wasn't time yet-not yet not yet not yet!!! To which she replied "Yes it is." Ordinarly, this is my cue to say "No it isn't," but today I took the higher road and said "I'm reading the directions. When you learn to read, then you'll know exactly when to put in the sugar." Yes, I did sound sanctimonious and snotty (mostly just snotty). Ugh.
Oh well, as Scarlett says, "tomorrow is another day."
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Homeschool Daze
My dd and I have begun homeschooling (gulp). I've talked enough talk; now it's time to walk the walk.
We've begun by working with the short-vowel sounds. I'm using Phonics Pathways. The lessons are short and easy to follow. It's almost like a script that I can follow until I become more at ease. Maybe that will happen in another 14 years.
She is having trouble with e and i, so we're taking some extra time with those sounds. I checked out a few library books whose stories emphasize these sounds, but now I'm feeling guilty, as I've been reading a book based on the Charlotte Mason method. She is anti-twaddle and these books are nothing BUT twaddle. I guess I'll be evaluating every book against the "Living Books" criteria. I can assure you that I've read very little lately that falls into that category. I wonder what Charlotte would make of The Devil Wears Prada?
Monday we're planning to start fresh with a bit more attention to structure and organization on my part and a bit more initiative and "Gee, Mom, can I hear MORE short-vowel sounds?" on her part. We'll see...
We've begun by working with the short-vowel sounds. I'm using Phonics Pathways. The lessons are short and easy to follow. It's almost like a script that I can follow until I become more at ease. Maybe that will happen in another 14 years.
She is having trouble with e and i, so we're taking some extra time with those sounds. I checked out a few library books whose stories emphasize these sounds, but now I'm feeling guilty, as I've been reading a book based on the Charlotte Mason method. She is anti-twaddle and these books are nothing BUT twaddle. I guess I'll be evaluating every book against the "Living Books" criteria. I can assure you that I've read very little lately that falls into that category. I wonder what Charlotte would make of The Devil Wears Prada?
Monday we're planning to start fresh with a bit more attention to structure and organization on my part and a bit more initiative and "Gee, Mom, can I hear MORE short-vowel sounds?" on her part. We'll see...
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